Steadicopter's Black Eagle 50 on the Hunt for Buyers

Israel’s Steadicopter unveiled its Black Eagle 50 rotary unmanned aerial vehicle (RUAV) at the Eurosatory show in Paris last month. The 30-kg (66-pound) craft can carry a three-kilogram payload and a communication range of up to 100 km (62 miles). Service ceiling is 9,000 feet, and the 2.5-meter-long RUAV has a cruising speed of 45 knots. It can hover for up to three hours and has a flight endurance of up to four hours.

The Black Eagle 50 is currently “in demo mode, with a number of customers around the world ahead of expected orders in the coming months,” according to Noam Lidor, sales and marketing manager for Steadicopter.

“We have developed a system to provide a real tactical response to ISTAR missions at sea and on land,” said Lidor. “Most similar platforms on the market are much larger and heavier, resulting in cumbersome maintenance, mobility, and operation, as well as less flexibility and agility.”